Published by Livara on February 7, 2023 In 15th century West Africa, hair was an identifier, it was a way to distinguish a person’s age, religion, rank, marital status and even family groups. Styles like dreadlocks are thought to have originated from Africa and were often used to represent social status. Since intricate braiding styles often took hours or even days to complete, it was a time of bonding and community between women.